In Vitro Assessment of Antitumor Effect for Amphora coffeaeformis Extract Against HepG2 and HCT116 Cell Cultures

Abstract

Introduction: Natural products are becoming more widely used as an alternative to conventional cancer treatments. Microalgae can be considered as a potential therapeutic agent in this circumstance due to their rich bioactive content and anticancer properties.

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of the microalgae Amphora coffeaeformis on growth performance of HepG2 and HCT116 cancer cells.

Methods: Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry analysis (GC-MS) was used to evaluate the active components of algal extract. The cytotoxicity after treatment with acetone extract of algae was tested against cancer cell lines [human hepatocellular cancer cells (HepG2) and human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116)] as well as normal human lung cells (WI38) by MTT assay. Morphological changes in cells and cell cycle arrest were also assayed. The apoptotic (Annexin V+ /PI+) or necrotic cells (Annexin V− /PI+) were identified by flow cytometry. Gene expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bax and p21 was measured by real-time PCR.  

Results: The GC-MS analysis of Amphora coffeaeformis extract demonstrated 30 different important compounds. The extract showed inhibitory potentials on cellular proliferation of cancer cells which was obviously along with increasing their concentrations. The extract induced cell growth arrest at G1 phase to HCT116 cells as well as WI38 cells and at pre G1 phase to HepG2 after 24 h exposure. The extract induced death in treated cells, by induction of both apoptosis and necrosis, late apoptosis becomes predominant. Expression of Bax, p53 and p21 genes revealed an increase in treated cancer cell lines compared to untreated control groups. In addition, a decrease in Bcl-2 of treated cancer cells.

Conclusions: Our results revealed the ability of Amphora coffeaeformis extract to exert cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on HepG2 and HCT116 cell lines, particularly in the late stage of apoptosis which is an irreversible process. So, Amphora coffeaeformis extract exhibited the anticancer activity.